NTSB Investigates Near-Collision Involving Philly Bound Plane

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Federal regulators say they're investigating the near-collision of a US Airways jet headed for Philadelphia and a small cargo plane over Minneapolis.

The National Transportation Safety Board says the planes came within 50 to 100 feet of crashing near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport last week.

The NTSB says US Airways Flight 1848, an Airbus 320, took off for Philadelphia with 90 passengers and five crew members shortly before 7 a.m. on Sept. 16. A Beech 99 operated by Bemidji Aviation Services took off on a parallel runway with only the pilot aboard.

The NTSB says the tower then instructed the US Airways crew to turn left, which caused it to cross paths with the cargo plane.

The NTSB estimates the planes came within 50 to 100 feet of each other, about 1,500 feet above the ground.

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